On September 25, 2024, the COP29 Presidency participated in the panel on “Synergy for Survival: Aligning Climate Goals with Health Outcomes” hosted by Foreign Policy as part of its Health Forum during the 79th UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week.

Moderated by Andrew Sollinger, Publisher & CEO of Foreign Policy, this panel featured Elmar Mammadov, Co-Leader of the Action Agenda Initiatives Team within the COP29 Presidency, Dr. Maha Barakat, Assistant Minister for Health and Life Sciences at UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Ethel Maciel, Secretary of Health Surveillance and Environment, Ministry of Health of Brazil.

During the discussions, each COP Presidency talked about their priorities on climate and health nexus. On behalf of the COP29 Presidency, Mr.Mammadov highlighted the importance of human capital and health considerations in climate action. He further explained the major role cities and health play in the COP29 Action Agenda, noting elements of the Presidency’s Action Agenda that address these issues, highlighting the Baku Initiative on Human Development for Climate Resilience and the Multisectoral Actions Pathways (MAP) to Resilient and Healthy Cities initiative. Mr. Mammadov additionally addressed the issue of continuity in climate and health efforts. He explained the COP29 Presidency’s efforts in establishing the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health initiatives involving the UK (COP26), Egypt (COP27), UAE (COP28), Azerbaijan (COP29), and Brazil (COP30) to promote sustained cooperation on health within the climate agenda. He also noted the Presidency’s plan to establish the Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Urban Climate Action within the framework of the MAP initiative. He also mentioned the attention and investment that Azerbaijan brings into human capital development and green infrastructure in the health sector in its capital city of Baku and other regions of the country as part of its national development plans.